Police: Mom holds 8-year-olds hands on hot griddle as form of punishment

HOUSTON—A Houston mother is accused of committing an unspeakable act against her 8-year-old son because she thought the child was a thief, according to Houston police.

Maria Dolores Guevara, 32, was charged with felony injury to a child.

Police said on December 19, 2012, Guevara thought her son stole a PSP game system from school. When the child denied taking the device, she took him into the kitchen after dinner and held his hands on a hot griddle on the stove top.

The child screamed and tried to get away, but his mom pressed her hands on top of his and kept it there for more than a minute, police said.

The mother’s girlfriend heard the boy screaming and ran into the kitchen. She rushed the boy to the bathroom and placed his hands under a faucet of cold, running water.

Both women saw the boy’s hands were swollen and full of puss, but neither took him to the hospital for treatment. The girlfriend said she loved his mom and did not want her to get into any trouble.

Guevara also threatened her son, saying she would burn his tongue if he ever told anyone.

The boy said nothing and continued to suffer in silence until school administrators saw him scratching his hands and investigated.